EU co-financed project transforms brewery into hotel and training centre

It will support social inclusion, jobs, education and training in the area

An important urban development in the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean has seen the transformation of the old stables and malt houses of the Belle-Vue brewery into a 3 star hotel and training centre. The “Espace hôtelier Belle-Vue” will support social inclusion, jobs, education and training in the area, by providing theoretical and practical training in the tourism and hotel business for low-skilled, young job seekers.  The renovation began in November 2011 and covered an area of 2 567 m². A total of 29 hotel rooms have been furnished, providing luxury at a competitive price. The facility also contains a seminar room and meets the highest standards of energy efficiency.

Research showed a need for training to be better aligned with the needs of the sector. The hotel rooms are therefore adaptable for training, thereby enabling trainees to put new skills into practice on-site. The project aims to improve the long-term perspectives of its trainees by fostering solid partnerships with other hotels. The Espace hôtelier Belle-Vue should train around 120 people a year in various aspects related to tourism, catering and hospitality, including housekeeping and reception duties, for which training is lacking in Brussels. Total investment for the project “Espace hôtelier Belle-Vue” is EUR 5 551 000, of which the EU’s European Regional Development Fund is contributing EUR 2 750 000, from the Operational Programme “Brussels Capital Region”, for the 2007 to 2013 programming period.

Source: European Commission